B.C.’s free IVF program begins taking applications Wednesday

After months of waiting, would-be parents in British Columbia can begin applying for a free round of in vitro fertilization (IVF) as of July 2.

Health Minister Josie Osborne provided an update on the program Wednesday afternoon in Vancouver, stating that the program is “first come, first served,” delivered in partnership with fertility clinics across the province.

“Infertility and other barriers can be truly devastating for hopeful parents. It’s emotional, overwhelming, can take a real toll on your well-being. And on top of that, the cost of treatments like in vitro fertilization is simply out of reach for many, and it’s just not right, because having a child shouldn’t depend on how much money you make,” Osborne said.

The participating clinics are the Olive Fertility, the Pacific Centre for Reproductive Medicine, and Grace Fertility.

“A person is a patient or client of a fertility clinic … they’re working with their fertility expert, and the package will be submitted to the Ministry of Health. We estimate it should take about 30 days to process that, for a complete application, and then we will be able to disperse the funding until the envelope of funding that’s been set aside for this year is completed, and then we’ll start again in the following year,” Osborne said.

If approved, eligible British Columbians will get funding of up to $19,000 for one round of IVF, but if people need more beyond that, they have to pay for it themselves.

Applications will be accepted until the end of March 2026. The provincial government has set aside $68 million for the program over two years.

Osborne shared Wednesday that the scheme will also be income-tested.

“Funding will be based on household income, to ensure that more individuals and families can benefit from the program with greater support for those who need it most,” she said. “This program is about more than providing financial support, it’s about giving people in our province more options so no one has to choose between money and their dream of starting a family. It’s about making sure that people have the chance to realize their dream of becoming a parent.”

“We will fund up to $19,000 for that single standard IVF cycle, and we’ll cover 100 per cent of that for those applicants who have a combined pre tax income of zero to $100,000,” she said, adding that the funding will be reduced in steps up to $250,000 pre tax income.

Osborne says the Ministry expects to fund between 1,100 and 4,500 IVF cycles with the funding available just this fiscal year.

“This is again, something that will be very carefully monitored along the way throughout this year, so that we can understand the demand for this and where people are at, and then make tweaks or adjustments to the program as we can moving forward,” she said.

1130 NewsRadio has previously spoken to experts in the field, who, although they are applauding the province for getting on board, criticize the fact that only one free round is being offered, when for some it can take up to three rounds to get pregnant.

Some also feel the 41-year-old age limit should be expanded. They’ve also explained that clinic waitlists have been growing for months, given that time is of the essence, eggs have a shelf-life, and worry that the delay in rolling out the program may have hurt some people’s chances at getting pregnant.

The beginning of the program has been a long time coming for those desperate to have a child. It was supposed to get underway in March, more than a year after it was announced as part of the province’s 2024 budget.

However, at the time, the Ministry of Health told 1130 NewsRadio it wasn’t ready because there were still too many details to be figured out, and it eventually and quietly pushed the timeline back without telling the public.